Government even argues over protection for children

Government even argues about protection for children

Babler, Stocker, and Meinl-Reisinger are currently agreeing less and less. There are even disputes over the protection of children on the internet.(Bild: APA/ROLAND SCHLAGER)

"Ill-conceived" unease in the coalition: first the unagreed food list, then the secret of the People's Party surrounding the referendum on conscription, and now an announcement of a social media ban that will not happen. Within a few weeks, the parties are losing themselves in political solo efforts. 

New week, same old story: Austria's first three-party government continues to argue internally—and still has three different opinions on crucial issues and projects. The latest proof of this: Similar to the food list for cheaper products in supermarkets, SPÖ Vice-Chancellor Andreas Babler rushed ahead on Monday morning with a press release about a supposedly imminent social media ban at the national level.

"Ill-conceived isolated solution"
The SPÖ leader responsible for media even announced a draft law to protect young people "by the summer." And although it would probably have been given the green light by Black Chancellor Christian Stocker, who wants to set the age limit at 14 and introduce a real-name requirement on the internet by law, Babler's proposal ultimately did not even survive lunchtime.

Age limit rejected
The pink coalition partner clearly rejected the red-white-red solution. NEOS club chairman Yannick Shetty told the "Krone" newspaper that it was an "ill-conceived proposal for an Austrian isolated solution that could result in citizens being required to identify themselves online." According to Shetty, there is agreement that such an age limit should be introduced at the European level.

"Devastating image"
Behind the scenes in government, there is now also agreement that obvious solo efforts such as those by Babler, but also Stocker's referendum initiative to extend compulsory military service, are putting a massive strain on the coalition climate – "and presenting a devastating image to the outside world," as government circles increasingly tell the Krone newspaper. Above all, the poor poll ratings of the former major parties, the ÖVP and SPÖ, are causing nervousness to rise. Even negotiations on the next double budget are therefore only "allowed" to begin after the SPÖ party conference on March 7.